Camera Labs

I started taking camera courses and photo walks last year to learn my camera- here is my duck shot: there were a lot of ducks in the area so I was going for a simple view and would like advice please.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75989821@N02/6825477935/" title="duckie by LILSPARK77, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6825477935_0d69f74048.jpg" width="450" height="301" alt="duckie"></a>

in case the html does not work:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75989821@N02/6825477935/

_________________
Sony A330

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Black Swans


3BlackSwan by maxjj, on Flickr


Black Swan by maxjj, on Flickr


Black Swan Juv Sleep by maxjj, on Flickr

_________________
Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

Black bellied whistling ducks in flight, comin' at ya:


And flying closely past:

_________________
Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

Sitting out next to a South Dakota slough got me these pictures this week.


Widgeons

American Widgeons_01

Gadwalls

Gadwalls_01

Pintails

Pintails_01

Mallards

Mallards_01

Redheads

Redhead Flock_01

Snows, Blues, Specklebellys and Honkers

Flock of waterfowl_01

and a wall of Snows and Blues that blocks out the shoreline and sky behind them. Truely a sight to see!


White_Wall-01

_________________
My Photos!
Nikon D7000*MB-D11 Battery Pack*35mm f/1.8*28-300mm f/3.5-5.6*300mm f/2.8 VR II*TC-17E II*TC-14E II

Thats quite a selection you have going on there Dete!!!
That wall of birds...would love to experience that!!

We have had an unusually mild winter,we have open water already and the geese/ducks were starting to arrive back by the hundreds last week.
Unfortunately....I'm back at work for the week in another county...
One I did find one that is a repeat in my area now for at least 3 years...The White One...has returned again.
I spotted it from quite a distance away and almost froze getting closer but....it's early and special here...so well worth the trek!!

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm

Hooded Mergansers...

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm

Spotted these guys hiding out in the reeds.
It took a while but they emerged and no matter what I did I couldn't get them clear of more reeds...





Lots of action around the marshes here now,plenty more species to arrive yet.
Broke an all time record for March this week and hit 90F
Still not seeing any bears out and around though

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm

Playing with the 5D and 70-300. Suffering a bit from lack of reach, but does the shallow(er) DoF add something?

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

They are ..all.. good but that first one really stands out for me Popo!
Wish I had a spot like that where they aren't sometimes food and shot at!
They are still a bit "flighty" around here but will settle down after a bit with babies and some more warm weather.
We're back to cold and snowy now

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm

Most wildlife is protected around here. But I do wonder how much meat you get on one of those geese? Maybe less than I think given the last time I tried to hug one they seemed to be feathery fluff on legs. Just nothing in there! Well, it might not be too long if their numbers keep increasing for them to be considered a pest, and applicable to controlled culling.

I do feel I've neglected the park. Debating going this evening but not sure...

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Taken from http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/canada-goose

Some great pics there in their gallery from their members

They aren't as plentiful here on the east coast as they are in central and western Canada at least not to the extent of being in need of "control" however
we do have a few isolated flocks that stay around over winter that they thin out each year.
I live in farm country and have only heard a few complain about the numbers or damage in recent years.
If they were to actually see or experience the numbers elsewhere in the REAL flyways I'm sure they would still consider themselves very lucky.
The game regulations/bag limits for Migratory Birds (ducks/geese) are set by federal agencies working together in Canada/USA/Mexico.
Bag limit is 5 per day but you can only have 10 in your "possession" at any given time,that's in the bag plus the freezer.
That includes all geese not just Canada's and the limit is the same everywhere as it is federally set so I don't see the east coast having any probs any time soon.

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm

Looking more, I'm a little surprised to find they are considered established in the UK with over 80,000 breeding pairs. I knew I heard of talks to cull them, but it seems it may be a bit more advanced than that. They can already be appropriately hunted with suggestions they should be made legal for reselling as food. Of course, any talk of culling anything is bound to stir up a counter-movement with comical reasoning that totally ignores the bigger picture. Regardless, I don't think I'd do any shooting beyond with a camera anyway.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

One from work last week....Scoter



Great day today at the marsh!!

Buffleheads..
Three males were performing for a female and totally oblivious I was there about 20yds from them at times.







Wood Ducks

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm

Beautiful morning at the marsh yesterday.



Setup a blind but didn't have much luck with that before it clouded over so a long distance shot off a tripod and a couple low light ones on the way in freehand...

_________________
Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-55mm,Pentax 50-200mm,Sigma 17-70mm,Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma 50-500mm